Our area here is often called "Hampton Roads" and is likewise known as "Tidewater", and some other people even like to call the whole place "Norfolk", even though Norfolk is technically only one of the smaller cities that comprise Hampton Roads VA.  It really depends on which letter of the alphabet you like best - they're pretty much the exact same place. 

Virginia Beach is often called the "bedroom" for the Norfolk Naval Base (THE largest Navy base in the world!), as many people don't want to live right next to Naval Base, so they relax and listen to XM Radio during the I-64 drive home to Virginia Beach. 

Some even prefer to live a bit farther away and keep rolling down the road (if you're paying for XM Radio, you might as well spend time listening to it!) to Chesapeake, and some even go farther to Suffolk which is about 15-20 minutes farther down the road if you're coming from Norfolk Naval Base. 

Virginia Beach VA is about 30-40 minutes from the Norfolk Naval Base, Chesapeake is another 10-15 minutes, and Suffolk is yet another 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic.  We have a great AM radio station (non-XM!!) that continually broadcasts up-to-date traffic patterns which is very helpful.

If you prefer to go the other direction, toward Williamsburg or Richmond to buy a home for sale in Newport News VA Real Estate, (aka, the "Peninsula") you'll need to go through the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel on I-64 or through the Monitor Merrimac bridge tunnel on I-664, depending on how traffic is flowing when you go.  And that drive is about 30-40 minutes or so.

Overall, this is a very pleasant area to buy a home for sale and settle down.  The bus / transit system reputedly needs some work, but commuting here is pretty much automobile-based, and is nicely laid out.  The various cities of Tidewater Virginia have a large number of subdivisions, with plenty of elbow room, and the industrial and commercial interests don't overshadow the residential areas like they do in other major metropolitan areas.

Come join the fun and find out why "Virginia is for Lovers!!"